This past weekend I made a too-quick one-day visit to the 2019 T-Bucket Nationals in Prescott, Arizona, which coincidentally was the 19th Nationals hosted by the National T-Bucket Alliance. These are always fun events. But it’s even more impressive that each one is organized and managed by dedicated NTBA members who volunteer their time to ensure a successful event.
By the way, there’s no official connection between me and this website with the National T-Bucket Alliance. I’m just a member the past 18 years, a big supporter and true believer that anyone who’s a T-Bucket owner, builder, buyer or lover should be a member. After all, it only costs $35 to join and for that you get a T-shirt, window sticker and free admission to all the NTBA events. There are 12 events in 2019 and the aim is to have something near just about everyone.
Oh, I forgot to mention that after your first year renewing your NTBA membership is only $25. Super deal!! And it also gives you access to the Members Forum on the NTBA website, which can be much more informative and useful than the Facebook page, which in itself is a very nice thing.
So, join the National T-Bucket Alliance now. You’ll be glad you did! Click here> (They make it easy for you to use credit card, PayPal or check by mail).
Now, back to the NTBA 2019 T-Bucket Nationals. I’ve quickly combined a podcast brief report on the Nationals with a collection of photos showing the huge variety of T-Bucket style hot rods in attendance. Just click on the video below to watch and listen.
By the way, if you’re curious about that hot-looking Dodge Viper powered blue T-Bucket featured in the 2019 Nationals logo, then you’ll enjoy our earlier story about Chris Ward’s Viper T-Bucket. Chris and wife Shari were the prime movers behind the successful 2019 T-Bucket Nationals. You’ll also enjoy our earlier story on Shari’s Mopar T-Bucket.
2020 T-Bucket Nationals
Mark your calendar now. The 2020 event will take place June 10-14, 2020 in Townsend, Tennessee, which is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With that location, there will be some terrific T-Bucket cruising action. The hotel has not yet been finalized and we’ll try to update you when we learn about that. Of course, if you join the National T-Bucket Alliance you’ll be kept up-to-date on that and everything else.
TBucketPodcast.com
If you haven’t checked out our new “Hooked on T-Bucket Hot Rods” podcast yet, jump on over to TBucketPodcast.com.
You’ll find our podcast episodes published there where you can listen to them online. We’ve also included some handy how-to information that will enable you to subscribe to our free podcast using your smart phone, tablet or PC. Hey, it’s all just one more way for us to share the T-Bucket passion and help others discover the fun of T-Bucket hot rods.
TBucketPlans.com originated in 2005 as a personal blog extolling the virtues of T-Buckets. In 2009 I blogged about Chester Greenhalgh, the "how to" genius who wrote the legendary, out-of-print “How to Build a T-Bucket Roadster for Under $3000”. That led to a friendship with Chester and our partnership in marketing the updated eBook version of his T-Bucket building bible. The T-Bucket fire burns stronger and stronger.
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John are still involved where are you?
I’ve always loved to go to any and all events like this meet and the bike meets also but it really tiring to never see any of them here, in the NW. Oregon, Washington, Idaho. The closest you all ever get is N. Cal.
What is it? Did somebody tell you that we all have worms or something? Beautiful country, great people,
nice cars and bikes, but no rallies or meets. What gives? Is there not enough money in it for ya? I mean, c’mon guys, it’s not dusty, or dry and hot, or so muggy you can’t breath. Our average temp in the mid to late summer is around 70 to 90 deg. And we do have some great cruise-ins here, maybe you should check it out, I’ll bet you’ll like it up here.
I recently acquired a fiberglass ’27 T body and I am now in the process of gathering parts. So far I have an 8BA flathead engine, a 3 spd OD trans a ’32 Ford front axle and wishbone, a Vertex magneto and a set of 14″ 1980 Camaro rims. I have a line on a Camaro rear axle and a rack and pinion steering gear.
Plans are to fabricate a frame from 2 x 4″ rectangular tubing and connect the front and rear axle through an air ride suspension system. The rear will be located by a 4 link setup and for the front I plan to duplicate a suspension developed by an Englishman named Sydney Allard. He cut an early Ford axle in half and mounted the inboard ends to the center of the front crossmember with bushings. He split the wishbones and mounted them to the sides of the frame rails with more bushings. A fabricated bracket connected coil springs to the top of the wishbones where they connected to the axle. This acted as a McPherson strut suspension. The only change I plan is to replace the coils with air springs. With a 5″ ride height and the short 14″ wheels and 60 profile tires, I should have a very low center of gravity and sports car handling. Target launch date is the 2020 cruise season.
P.S. The flathead will be turbo charged!